Vote for the national initiative.

[Ben_n_austin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTDdOSktQSU

http://www.ni4d.us/

[yeahyeah]

I like it.

[Ben_n_austin]

I like it.

Vote for it. You can do it online. And... you should tell anyone who can also vote for it.

The government won't tell you about it because it gives us, the people, power.

[PosterChild]

I'm not acquainted with the NI. The video pretty well sums it up, though. The idea not handing over full powers to elected officials as a matter of process is appealing to me.

Two objections spring to my mind.

1) Illegal Immigration would have to be addressed and solved in a meaningful way or one could readily foresee palpable problems here

2) Our higher educational system would need to be overhauled with heavy emphasis on subject areas such as economics, international politics, the sciences, and away from planetary environmental studies(GW cultish nonsense), diversity studies, womyn's studies, etc...Not that those fine alumni would be prohibited from participating but the larger focus of education in general away fr this... My point is I would only feel comfortable with an informed, rational population essentially legislating from their pajamas :)

I don't think that is too much to ask.

[burmafrd]

Actually its not the higher education system- its our primary system that is failing. Now I have no trouble with the notion that there should be a solid core that every student must go through to get a degree (and womens studies, minority studies, basket weaving, whatever should NOT be part of it)

[yeahyeah]

Vote for it. You can do it online. And... you should tell anyone who can also vote for it.

The government won't tell you about it because it gives us, the people, power.


I have...and I have..and will continue because it does and "they" wont.

[yeahyeah]

I'm not acquainted with the NI. The video pretty well sums it up, though. The idea not handing over full powers to elected officials as a matter of process is appealing to me.

Two objections spring to my mind.

1) Illegal Immigration would have to be addressed and solved in a meaningful way or one could readily foresee palpable problems here

2) Our higher educational system would need to be overhauled with heavy emphasis on subject areas such as economics, international politics, the sciences, and away from planetary environmental studies(GW cultish nonsense), diversity studies, womyn's studies, etc...Not that those fine alumni would be prohibited from participating but the larger focus of education in general away fr this... My point is I would only feel comfortable with an informed, rational population essentially legislating from their pajamas :)

I don't think that is too much to ask.

You see thats where they got you by the short and curlies. You dont have to have a higher degree to get to House or Senate...why should the people have to be better educated to vote for issues? They should be educated on the issue. If this passes we the people would educate and be educated on the issues at hand.
Trust me on this one...most of those "representatives" that vote on the national budget wouldnt know Kinesian Economics from a Hustler mag.
This is basically a national proposition system . I think its a fantastic idea.
This would compell Americans to stop being this mindless, consuming, drones. Who vote for the flashiest and then complain when nothing gets done. Its YOUR country..take some ownership.

[PosterChild]

You see thats where they got you by the short and curlies. You dont have to have a higher degree to get to House or Senate...why should the people have to be better educated to vote for issues? They should be educated on the issue. If this passes we the people would educate and be educated on the issues at hand.
Trust me on this one...most of those "representatives" that vote on the national budget wouldnt know Kinesian Economics from a Hustler mag.
This is basically a national proposition system . I think its a fantastic idea.
This would compell Americans to stop being this mindless, consuming, drones. Who vote for the flashiest and then complain when nothing gets done. Its YOUR country..take some ownership.

Well, I lean toward fantastic idea than not myself, but with less faith in the masses than others, I see. Maybe I'm just wrong on that point--an idiosyncrasy of mine. I dunno.

But what I am certain of, as for politicos not being up to speed or even necessarily competent, believe me, I recognize this... I was consumed for a about month with important national legislation that affected my industry, and I went back and forth with my State Rep on some issues seeking his support. Suffice to say, he was not in command of basic economic principles, and beyond that, seemed to lack perspective. He may have been disinterested in the matter and blindly chose to tow the party line, coming across as short-sighted. Either way, he wasn't looking out for my interests nor the ultimate beneficiaries of the legislation. A little critical analysis would've revealed the correctness of it all. He probably didn't take the time. BTW, his side lost and mine won.

[PosterChild]

Actually its not the higher education system- its our primary system that is failing. Now I have no trouble with the notion that there should be a solid core that every student must go through to get a degree (and womens studies, minority studies, basket weaving, whatever should NOT be part of it)


Easy there pardner- that's MY expertise. People don't appreciate us basket weaver engineers the way they should...

[zrinkill]

Democracy as a Government is Mob Rule.

We are a form of democracy called a Constitutional Republic.

That way the will of the majority of the population is tempered by protections for individual rights so that no individual or group has absolute power.

As much as you libs fear and distrust average white men, I would think you would be against a true Democracy in this nation.

:laugh2:

[bbgun]

Here's my shorthand approach to all issues political: If Ben is for it, then ...

[utrunner07]

Here's my shorthand approach to all issues political: If Ben is for it, then ...

:laugh2: I am of similar stance...the NI is a good idea, but has some MAJOR flaws...

[PosterChild]

Democracy as a Government is Mob Rule.

We are a form of democracy called a Constitutional Republic.

That way the will of the majority of the population is tempered by protections for individual rights so that no individual or group has absolute power.

As much as you libs fear and distrust average white men, I would think you would be against a true Democracy in this nation.

:laugh2:

As I understand this idea it is an adjunct to, not a replacement of our current govt org framework. And I think it would serve to keep our elected pubic servants honest and working for the common good, not special interest. I anticipated someone would invoke the perils of 'mob rule,' but clearly in its proposed form that isn't a fair assessment.

[yeahyeah]

As I understand this idea it is an adjunct to, not a replacement of our current govt org framework. And I think it would serve to keep our elected pubic servants honest and working for the common good, not special interest. I anticipated someone would invoke the perils of 'mob rule,' but clearly in its proposed form that isn't a fair assessment.

SCORE!

[Ben_n_austin]

You see thats where they got you by the short and curlies. You dont have to have a higher degree to get to House or Senate...why should the people have to be better educated to vote for issues? They should be educated on the issue. If this passes we the people would educate and be educated on the issues at hand.
Trust me on this one...most of those "representatives" that vote on the national budget wouldnt know Kinesian Economics from a Hustler mag.
This is basically a national proposition system . I think its a fantastic idea.
This would compell Americans to stop being this mindless, consuming, drones. Who vote for the flashiest and then complain when nothing gets done. Its YOUR country..take some ownership.


:hammer:

People wanna whine and moan about they can't do anything, so they don't vote. Well, this would allow them to vote on laws they made, etc.

[Vintage]

1) asserts the sovereignty of the People to make laws



Brilliant!

Can't see what could possibly go wrong with this!

[Ben_n_austin]

As I understand this idea it is an adjunct to, not a replacement of our current govt org framework. And I think it would serve to keep our elected pubic servants honest and working for the common good, not special interest. I anticipated someone would invoke the perils of 'mob rule,' but clearly in its proposed form that isn't a fair assessment.

It's clearly not a fair assessment. This is good for everyone. People will at least educate themselves on these laws and you can't spin these things like you can presidential elections. It adds another dimension and it gives us power other than picket sticks and card board signs.

These are issues people will have to think out for themselves, with no monkey business or politician involved. This is far from mob rule. This is putting a portion of the power where it belongs--with the people.

We can change it. And we should.